Does foam pipe cover prevent hose freeze?

DAS26miles wrote:
expecting temp to drop to 25 tonight. Have full hookups and usually I unhook freshwater hose and stow in heated compartment. But I see one or two using foam pipe insulation around their hoses, does it work? I have a few extra that I place on the edge of my slide out to prevent my heading my head.

Fill your water tank then disconnect and drain the hose and store like you have ben doing. I would also shut your gray water drain if it is going to be cold for a while. Water running through the sewer hose will build up ice and plug the sewer hose. Ask me how I know. It also takes a long time to get it thawed if it marginally warms up. I would also add some extra heat in the wet bay if it will be cold long. At least a 75wat regular light bulb. I have a small ceramic heater with a fan for when it gets really cold.
Bill

hose quick release fittings, unhook from spigot, drop hose to drain. no worries. or buy a heat tape.
bumpy

DougE wrote:
If you have a freeze of limited duration and especially if you have some water usage during the freeze the hose will likely not freeze. The insulation slows the loss of temperature but does not ultimately prevent freezing. If you want to prevent freezing for long term usage you need to put heat tape under the insulation. It is readily available at RV and Big Box Home Improvement stores.

BINGO,
Worked for me through 3 northern winters, even under a foot of snow.
Heat tape covered with pipe insulation and wrapped with electrical tape. Never had a problem. Replaced hose each year, same heat tape made it through all 3.

Insulation will slightly extend the amount of time it takes the water to freeze, it will not prevent freezing without an added heat source.

If you have a freeze of limited duration and especially if you have some water usage during the freeze the hose will likely not freeze. The insulation slows the loss of temperature but does not ultimately prevent freezing. If you want to prevent freezing for long term usage you need to put heat tape under the insulation. It is readily available at RV and Big Box Home Improvement stores.

It may work at 25 but not much lower than that. I tried it at 18 and also covered and insulated the inlet on the trailer and woke up with the hose frozen. I now just unhook the hose and reapply in the morning as you been doing.

If you have heat tape or heated hose then use the pipe cover it would probably work.

Foam pipe insulation will slow the rate of cooling of the pipe. It will not keep the water from freezing if it gets cold enough long enough. It won't heat the pipe, just keep heat from escaping as fast as a non wrapped pipe. It might work if you run a slow trickle of water through the line, and it doesn't get any colder than 25 degrees.